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Man have been to plays there and many other theatres and never dreamt the roof could collapse - I guess gives a new meaning to "bringing down the house!" Thankfully it looks like there may be no fatalities.

It's a bit like the problem of garment brands and retailers with third-world factories.

Demand is expanding so fast they just haven't got the resource to check the premises.

The National Theatre, not content with umpteen stages on the South Bank, is now running shows in more formerly "commercial" London theatres than Rice/Lloyd-Webber managed at their peak. Not just this The Curious Incident... at the Apollo, but War Horse, One Man Two Guvnors and the Drowned Man.

Add whatever RSC and Almeida Theatre productions are being moved to the West End/Broadway, and the conventional not for profit places like the Royal Court, the Donmar, the Globe's embryonic empire and the Old Vic and it's clear that our theatre's historic attachment to the free-wheeling capitalism of Richard Burbage and William Shakespeare is in real danger of being destroyed by neo-Marxist subsidy junkies.

We'll have to wait and see what the structural engineers say, but one paper is reporting this morning that part of a balcony handrail gave way when people crowded towards it, which sounds like something more than just water getting into the ceiling plaster.

Not sure if its what you meant, Havanna128 but I guess in the grand scheme of things its no big deal. But isnt this what makes us hopeful that as human beings we can feel sympathy for the plight of others. In the time that I wrote my initial message my baby grandaughter has been admitted to hospital, and goodness me I am upset .... but in the grand scheme of things .......

I think Havanna meant that the Apollo ceiling collapsing and the London theater business is not remotely similar to garment factories in third world countries making cheap clothes for Walmart. And I agree.